Coming off of the 34-track behemoth of an album that was American Heartbreak back in May of 2022, the last thing that many expected was yet another batch of songs from Bryan. However, in true Zach Bryan fashion, he did the unthinkable and dropped another nine-song collection, an EP titled Summertime Blues.
For many Zach Bryan super fans out there, they knew that Summertime Blues was somewhere on the horizon in the summer of 2022 given that he was teasing the song even before American Heartbreak was released.
On June 26, Bryan took to social media to announce that the EP was currently being recorded, noting how happy he was to be recording new music. Later on July 1, he noted how the idea of Summertime Blues releasing in September would be “ridiculous.” This turned out to be a bit of a red herring from the “Something in the Orange“ singer because he took to Instagram and gave everyone a surprise on July 5th.
Keen fans of the EP may notice that Bryan says eight songs in the original post even though the final version has nine. That is because “Jamie,” the fan-favorite collaboration with rising star, Charles Wesley Godwin, was accidentally added to Summertime Blues. In fact, Bryan made it explicitly clear at first that “Jamie” was not supposed to be on the project.
No one really knows whether Bryan did this on purpose or not; however, it’s certain that absolutely no one is complaining. The track has quickly become a staple at both Godwin’s solo shows and Bryan’s whenever the duo is on the road together.
In an exclusive interview with Country Chord, Godwin opened up about the creation of “Jamie.” He noted how Bryan FaceTimed him back in January of 2022 with the concept. After a few months and some changed plans, the two finally recorded it in less than 30 minutes at Bryan’s home in Philadelphia. You can read the rest of it here.
Though “Jamie” is the clear fan-favorite, “Oklahoma Smokeshow” has been the most successful for the Oklahoma singer/songwriter commercially. Without being formally released as a single, it peaked inside the Top 25 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. It also reached #10 on Billboard’s Hot Rock and Alternative chart and is currently certified double platinum by the RIAA.
The EP itself, as well as “Motorcycle Drive By” and “Quittin’ Time,” have also been certified gold by the RIAA, all selling at least 500,000 units respectively.
Summertime Blues also contains the highly underrated, “Twenty So.” In typical Zach Bryan fashion, he reminisces about the “savage times of twenty-so” throughout the heartfelt track. He drops an all-time classic lyric in the chorus that sounds right at home on a B-side Bruce Springsteen track.
“When the night is through
And those American girls are headed home
You’ll be begging of your savior
To let you save her
From the sweet nights of twenty so”
Listen to “Oklahoma Smokeshow,” “Jamie” and “Twenty So” here: